Firefighters showcased the skills they learned in training

While two captains observe from the ground, some 21 men and women about to officially graduate from the Ventura County firefighters training program put out a controlled structure fire for a live demonstration on graduation day in Camarillo on Friday.

The 21 graduates of the Academy of the Ventura County Fire Department demonstrated for their families and friends on Friday the skills they've learned over the past 18 weeks.

For Tina Morrison, it was a proud moment to see her son Colby become a firefighter.

"He'll be the third generation of firefighters in our family," Morrison said. "His father and great-grandfather were firefighters."

As the demonstration began in the Camarillo Airport parking lot, four of the trainees raced to put their firefighters' gear on in less than one minute — the required time to put on their gear and leave the station. It took 40 seconds for the first one to finish and 52 seconds for the last.

"It still beats the required time," said training captain Dan Preston, during the presentation. "It takes a little while as you can see, that's why we practice," he told the public.

The presentation continued with an automobile extrication demonstration. They need to remove the top of the vehicle to have complete access to the victim, Preston explained as the trainees conducted the demonstration.

The first two weeks of the training involved preparing to be "good paramedics and good EMTs," said Preston. They started their preparation to be firefighters in the third week.

During the training they also learned how to rescue people, wildland firefighting skills, basic and advance medical training among other skills — all demonstrated in the showcase. They rescued people from a third- story building, shut-off a live fire, and did ladder and roof operations.

"I feel honored; it's the best profession to have," said Colby after his demonstration. "I think we all started as individuals and ended as a team."

Part of the audience included exchange students from China — part of Cultural Homestay International.

Roberta Bramson, teacher coordinator, said it was important for the students to see the demonstration. "They don't have this is China and it's important for them to see the American culture," she said.

Andrea Stanley, one of the two females in the academy, said being a firefighter is something she's always wanted to do.

"I want to help people, be in the first line when things are happening," she said.

Now that the training is over, the firefighters will be on probation for one year.

"They'll be in the field, but will have further testing," said Thomas Glauser, training captain.

The firefighters were trained by four training captains and 64 staff instructors. Seventeen of the trainees are from the Ventura County Fire Department and four are from the City of Ventura Fire Department.

Preston expects the firefighters to meet the standards of the department. "We don't want average firefighters," he said.